An In Vitro System Simulates in Membranes the Antibacterial Mechanism Postulated for the Action of Isoxazolylnaphtoquinoneimine inStaphylococcus aureus

NR SPERANDEO

BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS

ACADEMIC PRESS INC ELSEVIER SCIENCE

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 1997 vol. 239 p. 186 - 186

0006-291X

he 2-hydroxy-N-(3,4-dimethyl-5-isoxazolyl)-1,4-naph- thoquinone-4-imine (Q1) revealed good activity againstStaphylococcus aureus.Q1in contact with the bacteria experimented reduction evidenced by changes in its spectrum of absorption simultaneously with loss of colour. During the first 4 hours of incubation, oxygenation restored the original spectrum. Treatment with sodium borohydrure reduces irreversibly Q1. Redox-reaction ?in vitro? was detected between Q1and NADH in the presence of diaphorase. The environment of the probable site of action of Q1was simulated using an artificial membrane system, instead ofS. aureusmembranes. Q1interacts with lisophosphatidylcholine micelles following a cooperative binding model. The kinetics of Q1-reduction was increased by lipid micelles incorporated with the antibacterial compound.